Adjustable chain-tightener.



NETE@ @TAlllitd THOMPSON H. CHRISTY NED SAMUEL K. HUNGEB', QF VNDERGEFT, PENNSYLVANIA.

ADJUSTABLE CHA'lJ-TEG-HEENEE..

Specication of Letters Eaten-t,

Patented @ein 23, 121%'.

.Application :tiled May 18, 1917. Serial lili 'i 'TLA-32,553.

Toa/.ZZ w/wm t may concern.:

Be it known that we, THOMPSON H. CHRISTY and SAMUEL K. HUNGER, citizens of the United States, residing at Vandergritt, in the county of l/Vestmoreland, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Adjustable Chain Tightener, of which the following is a speciiication.

It is the object of this invention to pro vide a novel means, mounted on the hub of a vehicle wheel, for tightening up an'antiskid chain or like member which is carried by the tire of the wheel.

In the drawings Figure l is a side elevation of a Wheel upon which the structure forming the sub# ject matter of this application has been mounted;

Fig. 2 isa longitudinal section of the tightener; f

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the tightener, the same being in open position;

Fig.- 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

In 1 there appears a vehicle Wheel including a rim 1 carrying a tire 2. The numeral 3 denotes the hub of the wheel.

I An anti-'skidding device 4 is-mounted on the tire 2 and 'includes circumferential side chains 5. t

The tightener forming the subject matter of this application includes a hub engaging support 6 preferably in the form of a ring which is padded as shown at 7 to the endv that the hub 3 may not be marred. The tightener includes a U-shaped main link 8 and a U-shaped lever 9, these parts being united by means of pivot elements 10 with opposed portions of the ring 6. A U-shaped auxiliary link 11 is shown, and the same is pivoted at 12 to the sides of the lever 9,.

intermediate the ends of the lever. The crown of thelever 9 carries a projecting handle 14 provided with a resilient latch 15. Near to their outer ends, and at their sides, the links 8 and 11 are provided with eyes 16 to which are pivoted the inner ends of turnbuckles 17, having eyes 18 at their outer ends. Threaded through the eyes 18 are flexible elements 19, which may bel chains, the outer ends of the ilexible elements being detachably assembled, at spaced points, with the circumferential side chains 5 of the anti. y

shielding device 4. ln practical operation, the turnbuckles 1'? are manipulated to ad just the flexible elements 19 approximately,

and then the lever 9, being in the position.'

of Fig. 3, is swung over Iin the direction of the arrow A until the 'lever 9 lies within the main link 8, as shown in Fig. 2, the latch 15 engaging .automatically with the crown of the main link 8. By the operation above described, the link 11 will be drawn to the left (Fig. 3) thereby exerting a pullon the side chains 5. The ring 6 preferably fits somewhat loosely about the hub 3, so that when the lever 9 is swung over in the direction of the arrow A, the'link 8 may also exert a tightening action'on the side chains 5, on either the inside or the outside ci the rim, or both.

Having thus described the invention, what l oted at one end to the intermediate portionof the lever; Ameans assembled with the other end of the link for engaging al tire `carried element, to tighten the same; and means for holding the'lever against'swinging movement when the lever is in tightening Jvpc-- sition.

2. ln a device ofthe class described, a

hub engaging support; a main link projecting in one direction from the support; a lever fulcrumed on the support; an auxiliary link projecting in an opposite direction and pivotefl to the lever intermediate the ends of the lever; a latch mechanism forming a detachable connection between the outer end of the main link and thel lever; and means assembled with the linksfor engsi-ging an antiskiddingl device.

3. in a device of the class described, a hub engaging support; a ll shaped main link; a U-shaped lever; means for pivotally connecting lever and the main link with the support; an auxiliary link pivoted. to the lever intermediate the ends of the lever;

' a handle constituting a part of the lever;

a latch carried by the handle and coast-ing with the crown of the main link; and means carried by the links for Connecting the same with an anti-skidding device.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as ounown, We have hereto affixed om` sgnatures 1n the presence of two Witnesses.

THOMPSN H. CHRISTY. SAMUEL K. HUNGER.

Witnesses:

FRANK D. NEAL, CHAs. T. Cm. 

